St James! Behold me here, once again, beside your tomb which I approach today, a pilgrim of all the pathways of the earth, to honour your memory and implore your protection.

I come from luminous and perennial Rome to you who became a pilgrim, following the footprints of Christ and who brought his name and his voice to this farthest part of the earth.

I come from Peter's side and, as his successor, I bring to you, to you who, with him, are a pillar of the Church, the fraternal embrace that traverses centuries and the song which resounds firm and apostolic in its catholicity.

With me, St James, there is an immense and youthful flood which has surged from springs in all the countries of the world. Here, you have it, united and still in your presence, anxious to refresh its faith in the vibrant example of your life.

We come to this blessed threshold in eager pilgrimage. We come immersed in this great throng which throughout the centuries has led people to Compostela where you are pilgrim and host, apostle and patron.

And we come today to you because we are on a common journey. We are walking towards the end of a millennium which we want to close with the seal of Christ. We are going further still, to the beginning of a new millennium which we want to open in the name of God.

St James, for this pilgrimage of ours we need your zeal and courage. For this reason, to ask them of you, we have come as far as this "finisterrae" of your apostolic adventures.

Teach us, apostle and friend of Our Lord, the WAY which leads to him. Open us, preacher of the lands of Spain, to the TRUTH your learned from the Master's lips. Give us, witness of the Gospel, the strength always to love the LIFE .

Place yourself, patron of pilgrims, at the head of our Christian youthful pilgrimage. And just as, in the past, the peoples walked towards you, may you be a pilgrim with us when we go to meet all peoples. With you, St James, Apostle and Pilgrim, we want to teach the nations of Europe and the world that Christ is - today and always - the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE.